Inadequately funding prototypes during the development of major weapon systems will inevitably lead to greater cost growth down the road in future acquisitions, according to the Pentagon's top weapons buyer. Citing the multiservice F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as example No. 1, Pentagon acquisition executive John Young believes billions of dollars in additional development costs could have been avoided if the program office invested more during the prototyping portion of the acquisition competition. In a Jan. 16 memo to Defense Secretary...
